Itinerary
April 18. Arrival in Paris, transfer to the hotel. Afternoon free to
recover from jet lag. Dinner and overnight in Paris.
April 19. Music tour of Paris including visit to the "Cour
d"Orleans" backyard of Chopin’s and Georges Sand’s Parisian
home. Continue on to the Opera Garnier, the splendid opera house from the period of
the Third Empire. Charles Garnier designed the building to be a monument of art, luxury
and pleasure in which marble and golden decors and purple velvet are enhanced by lavish
lighting. In the afternoon drive to Saint German en Laye, visit the Debussy
Museum , birthplace of Claude Debussy. Welcome dinner at the Brasserie
Café de la Paix. Facing the Opera Garnier, this world renowned restaurant built in
1860 has been frequented by well known artists, such as Giuseppe Verdi. Dinner and
overnight in Paris.
April 20 This morning you’ll have a guided tour of the Louvre, the
biggest museum in the world. View the most important exhibits including the Venus of
Milo and many other masterpieces. Afternoon free. Evening ballet at the Opera
Garnier. Dinner and overnight in Paris.
April 21. Free day in Paris. Evening concert at the Salle Pleyel with the
Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra. Dinner and overnight in Paris.
April 22. Departure to Blois, center of chocolate making. Visit
the castle, then free time for chocolate tasting on your own. Continue on to Ambois.
Tour the 15th century castle and the gothic chapel of St. Hubert containing Leonardo
da Vinci’s remains. Dinner and overnight in Tours, the capital of the
Loire Valley.
April 23 After a short sightseeing of Tours drive to charming Chenonceau Castle
linked with Henri 2nd’s beautiful mistress, Diane de Poitier, the
unofficial queen of France, and her rival Catherine de Medici. Visit the castle
spanning over the river Cher. On to Langeais castle, where the royal marriage of
Charles 8th and Ann of Brittany took place in 1491. The castle evokes the life of French
nobility and houses an impressive collection of Gothic and Renaissance tapestries of
Flanders and Aubusson. At the edge of the hauntingly dark forest of Chinon see the
legendary castle of Usse that inspired Perrault’s tale of "The
Sleeping Beauty". Later visit a wine producer in Vouvray, capital of the
Loire Valley wines. Dinner at the restaurant "Grand Vattel". Return to Tours.
Overnight.
April 24. Departure to Bourges, the ancient city, called the "finest
city in Gaul" by Julius Caesar. Visit to the cathedral, one of the largest and most
beautiful Gothic cathedrals in France. Continue on to Vezelay. A living museum of
French medieval era, this colorful Burgundian village stands frozen of time. It was once
the gathering point of the Crusades drawing such personages as Richard the Lionhearted
and King Philippe Auguste. Visit the Basilica of St. Madeleine, France’s
most famous Romanesque church and the Carolingean crypt where according to some
historians, the tomb of Mary Magdalene formerly rested. On to Dijon, historical
capital of the Dukedom of Burgundy. Dinner and accommodation in Dijon.
April 25. City tour of Dijon known overseas mainly for its mustard. In the
center of the ‘Cote d’Or, it is the ancient capital of Burgundy. Visit
the Ducal Palace with its fine collection of art of the Valois court. Drive along
the "Route des Grands Crus", that made Burgundy’s wines world
famous. Visit the Chateau of Clos Vougeot, seat of the distinguished "Confraternity
of Knights of Tastevin where we’ll see the medieval cellars and wine -presses.
Arrive in Beaune, capital of wine country and beautifully preserved medieval city.
Dinner in a typical Burgundian winery. Overnight in Beaune.
April 26. After a visit to the 16th century Flemish-Gothic Hospices
where Burgundy’s annual wine auction takes place, drive to Fontaineblau. Visit
the castle built in 1528 by the order of Francois 1. Kings of France lived in this castle
from the last Capetians until Napoleon III. View the famous horseshoe-shaped exterior
where Napoleon bade farewell to his army before his departure to exile on Elba.
Return to Paris. Dinner and overnight.
April 27. Free day in Paris. Farewell dinner at the restaurant "Le
Procope", the oldest restaurant in Paris where Verlaine and Mozart used to
dine. Overnight in Paris.
April 28. Transfer to Charles De Gaulle airport to board your flight back to
North America.
Price: on request
Price includes:
- Airfare from North America to Paris
- 3 star hotel accommodation on the tour
- 2 meals per day as per detailed itinerary
- Services of a tour escort and local guides
- Tickets to one ballet and one concert performance in Paris
- Air ,land taxes and service charges
Not included: Gratuities at your discretion to your escort and guide |
